In a disturbing display of misogyny and disrespect, the joint session of Parliament witnessed women from the opposition PTI protesting vehemently on Tuesday. The catalyst for their outrage was the Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, who brazenly used sexist and derogatory remarks to refer to them, once again highlighting the prevalence of offensive language directed towards women politicians.
The contentious comments were made in response to criticism by parliamentarians, including PTI Senator Ali Zafar, regarding the legislative process and the perceived “bulldozing” of bills.
Asif’s words, “Depraved women should not lecture on chastity,” prompted immediate backlash from a female parliamentarian during the live broadcast. But instead of retracting his offensive words, the Defence Minister doubled down, insinuating that any further objection would be met with accusations of playing the “woman card.”
Asif continued his disparaging tirade, labeling the women parliamentarians as the “remains” and “ruins” of Imran Khan. This provoked outrage from PTI members present, demanding an apology for the demeaning remarks.
Disturbingly, the session lacked substantial condemnation from other members, including those from the treasury benches. PPP’s Sherry Rehman’s casual reaction to the insults raised eyebrows and questioned the overall tolerance towards such behavior.
This isn’t the first time Khawaja Asif has resorted to using derogatory language against women in Parliament. In the past, he targeted then-PTI MNA Shireen Mazari, using offensive terms and belittling her during an NA session.
The incident underscores the urgent need for sensitivity training and gender equality education among parliamentarians and society as a whole. Sexist remarks against women politicians not only harm individual dignity but also perpetuate a hostile environment for women in politics.
Asif’s remarks have ignited public outrage, and civil society groups are calling for a formal apology and disciplinary action against the Defence Minister. It is crucial that parliamentary leaders take a firm stance against any form of sexism and ensure that elected representatives lead by example.